Chapter 291: The Footprint of the God of the Land (5)

The Moonlight Sword of Vermouth Lionheart remained absent from the annals of history, void of any recorded mention. Its elusive nature was further accentuated by the fact that Vermouth never exhibited the sword nor employed it in any manner after returning from Helmuth. Nor did he opt to entrust the Moonlight Sword to the guardianship of the esteemed Lionheart lineage.

It seemed as though the Moonlight Sword had never been, as if it had been wiped from the collective memory. However, within the special archives of Babel, there existed a record acknowledging the sword's existence.

It was a record left by Gavid Lindman, the Sword of Incarceration. But rather than a record, it was more accurate to call it a personal obsession. Gavid Lindman had been afraid of the Moonlight Sword, and he had been obsessed with it as well.

Edmund understood the driving force behind Gavid's relentless fixation. Gavid's own sword, Glory, had fallen short of surpassing the legendary Moonlight Sword wielded by Vermouth Lionheart. When the Moonlight Sword vanished without a trace in the annals of history, Gavid conjectured that Vermouth had either destroyed or concealed the enigmatic blade. For countless years, Gavid persevered in his quest to uncover the materials of the Moonlight Sword.

However, at some point in time, Gavid stopped his search. It wasn’t clear whether he wanted to escape from the sense of defeat he felt towards Vermouth or because of his faith in Glory, but Gavid gave up on the Moonlight Sword.

Nevertheless, traces of Gavid's fervent search persisted within the hallowed confines of the special archives. The Moonlight Sword, a calamity incarnate within the form of a weapon, possessed a malevolent radiance that cast an eerie glow. Its ominous aura remained unparalleled, rendering even the mighty Dark Power of the Demon Kings unable to claim a definitive advantage against the sheer might emanating from the Moonlight Sword.

‘How could this be…!?’

Edmund’s shock was even greater because he knew the identity of the Moonlight Sword. Despite Eugene's formidable strength, be it with or without the Holy Sword, Edmund remained resolute in his unwavering faith in the Cube's impenetrable defense. The divine power bestowed upon the Holy Sword was but the authority of an absent deity. Edmund harbored doubts regarding the absolute potency of this enigmatic divinity, perceiving it as an ambiguous force.

However, the Moonlight Sword was a different story. The power contained within the weapon wasn’t something vague like divine power.

It contained destructive power of unknown origin. Moreover, as foretold in the records, the sword exuded an overwhelming aura of foreboding. Even casting a mere glance upon its dull gray radiance suffused Edmund with an instinctive apprehension, a visceral awareness of impending peril.

He could not allow it to come near.

Edmund immediately invoked his magic. Layers upon layers of defensive magic formed a wall in front of the Cube. The magic he had allowed to seep into the space surrounding them was activated and targeted Eugene’s life.

Moonlight expanded. Eugene moved forward, extinguishing the bombardment of magic. It was true that the Moonlight Sword held a great advantage over magic, but such an overwhelming power also stressed the user with a great burden. Even Vermouth had been unable to swing the Moonlight Sword freely at will.

The Moonlight Sword wasn’t complete. It was only about a third of its full form, which decreased the burden on Eugene, but also its power. It was impossible for Eugene to completely vanquish the magic of such a powerful black wizard.

However, Akasha granted Eugene a profound understanding of magic. With this newfound insight, Eugene possessed the ability to perceive the impending attacks even before they were set into motion. Utilizing this foresight, he swiftly closed the gap between himself and Edmund, deftly severing the intricate connections underlying the magic spells.

Vladmir glowed with a wicked light. It was a staff that made use of a whole dragon heart, just like Akasha. However, it possessed a different power.

Akasha’s power allowed the user an understanding of magic. It allowed the user to comprehend magic they had never learned, and through comprehension, it allowed the optimization of existing magic into a more powerful form.

Vladmir's power diverged from Akasha's in its essence, emphasizing a more forceful and aggressive approach. Instead of bestowing a heightened understanding, it bestowed upon its wielder the capacity to overpower adversaries through sheer, unbridled might. Even when casting the same spell, the magic channeled through Vladmir would be

heavier

.

Booom!

The blast of moonlight came to an abrupt halt; its advance halted in its tracks. Spells that had previously been easily disrupted now resisted attempts to break through once they were infused with the power of Vladmir.

Eugene’s lips twisted into a smile. He was reminded of the past when he saw Vladmir. Belial, the lich better known as the Staff of Incarceration, had once been the master of Vladmir. At that time, all five of them, including Vermouth, had attacked together to break through his magic.

‘But you’re not Belial,’

Eugene thought.

Indeed, Edmund was the current Staff of Incarceration. However, Eugene didn’t think he was as strong or stronger than Belial. Their present state proved it. Even though the Moonlight Sword was in a weakened state, it wasn’t far behind Edmund’s magic in power.

Eugene scattered feathers of Prominence, then continuously leaped through space while brandishing the Moonlight Sword. The waves of moonlight seemed to form a circle reminiscent of a full moon.

Quaaash!

The moment Eugene’s flames were extinguished by black magic, he focused his power on the Holy Sword, which he held in the opposite hand. Although he could not use the Empty Sword with the Moonlight Sword, there were no such restrictions with the Holy Sword. A burst of light once again illuminated the darkness.

The Cube’s surface reverberated, but it remained intact. Edmund felt relieved, then instantly felt mortified he had done so.

His body filled with the Dark Power of the Demon King of Incarceration. Four hands rose from the ground in front of the Cube, and a black flame bloomed between the palms. Simultaneously, numerous eyes appeared around the Cube.

The Eye of Curse possessed the ability to bind the target's body, essence, and very soul with but a single gaze. As countless eyes fixed their gazes upon Eugene, he felt an immediate rigidity seizing his being.

Edmund did not miss the opportunity and immediately unleashed Hellfire. Just before the black fire struck, a beam of light descended from the sky and wrapped around Eugene. The power belonged to Kristina and Anise. The curse that paralyzed Eugene’s body was dispelled, and the fire was deflected for a short moment.

The Holy Sword reacted to the fallen Light, and Eugene immediately cut through the Hellfire. Instead of jumping straight through the gap, Eugene leaped through space using Prominence.

Kwaaaaa!

The luminescence of the Moonlight Sword blazed against the Cube. Beyond the shattering and scattering moonlight, it was possible to see the surface of the Cube trembling. But as expected, it was impossible to crush the cube with just a single strike.

Edmund’s eyes filled with shock. Although the Cube had resisted, the magical incantation that composed his magic had been damaged. At this rate, it would surely collapse, and a crack would appear on the Cube. Edmund hurriedly used his Dark Power to repair the damage.

‘It wasn’t as if there was no damage.’

Eugene observed Edmund using Dark Power to reinforce the Cube. He knew what he had to do. He just needed to unleash a barrage of attacks faster than Edmund could repair and reinforce the Cube.

Naturally, Edmund did not plan on allowing this to happen. He could not allow Eugene to narrow the distance. Vladmir filled with Dark Power once more.

Rumbleeee!

From the depths of the gathering Dark Power, five colossal figures materialized, taking on the imposing form of giants. Forged from a fusion of potent magic and the enigmatic essence of Dark Power, these giants set their sights on Eugene, launching a ferocious assault. Yet, they existed only to serve as a mere diversion, buying Edmund precious moments. Edmund immediately shifted his focus away from the towering giants, redirecting his energies toward the resumption of his own spellcasting.

The numerous eyes were still capturing Eugene. However, they weren’t nearly as effective as before, with the shining Light protecting Eugene from beyond the curtain of darkness.

A complex magic circle appeared on the surface of the Cube, and the object started to float upwards.

Boooom!

An explosion emanated from Eugene, separate from Edmund's own actions. Edmund stared at Eugene in astonishment as the giants formed from Dark Power were systematically destroyed, vanishing one by one.

Eugene exerted his will, propelling the sun that hovered in his palm toward Edmund. The sunspots expanded rapidly, gradually engulfing the radiant sphere until it was completely obscured, marking the culmination of Eclipse. A sense of trepidation gripped Edmund, compelling him to hastily overlay additional layers upon the magic circle suspended in the air.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

A barrage of magic was unleashed from the magic circle, and it collided with Eclipse. At first, it seemed as if the two attacks would offset each other, but the sinister moonlight severed the intertwining forces.

‘What is this?’

Edmund did not want to acknowledge the ominous feeling that crept up from the depths of his heart. He continued to cast his spells without a break.

Craaack!

The upturned earth surged towards Eugene, seemingly driven by an unseen volition. While the earth itself posed no immediate grave danger, each grain of soil bore the mark of Edmund's Dark Power. As the energies intermingled and intertwined, a transformative alchemy took place, birthing a novel form of magic.

The amalgamation of connected energies weaved a chain formed from Dark Power, and it expanded to envelop Eugene and the space around him.

A chain of darkness intertwined the fragmented landmasses, its ebony links stretching outward to encompass Eugene and the surrounding space. Gradually tightening, the constricting chain caused the once expansive area to shrink, creating an ominous convergence that loomed over Eugene, menacingly poised to crush him under its relentless pressure.

Booom…!

Eugene could no longer be seen, and Edmund hoped that Eugene had been crushed along with the space. He willed the chain to wrap around the lump of land, then burned it whole using Hellfire.

Unfortunately, once again, moonlight emerged.

Fwoosh! Fwoosh!

Eugene escaped the prison of black magic while swinging the Moonlight Sword. Edmund shouted unknowingly while causing Hellfire to erupt once more, “Just die!”

How many times had it been? He had used a series of magic that could unconditionally kill his enemy, but for the umpteenth time in a row, Eugene was completely unscathed. The damned Moonlight Sword continued to destroy his black magic.

It was the same now. The Hellfire, which was supposed to burn and devour everything it touched, was instead being blocked and devoured by the dreary moonlight.

Edmund roared while once again unfolding his magic circle. He unleashed Spears of Death one after another, and lightning fell from the space distorted by magic.

The Wing of Prominence quivered, and a diminished manifestation of Eclipse erupted, intercepting the oncoming bolt. The spears were thwarted as Eugene brandished the Moonlight Sword and the Holy Sword in unison.

“Just die!” Edmund shouted once more.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

With a forceful strike of Vladmir against the earth, a multitude of blades, thorns, and chains erupted from the ground, soaring through the air with lethal intent. The chains would ensnare, the blades cleave, and the thorns pierce. However, the chain was the first to succumb, and its hold shattered. The thorns clashed against one another, their piercing ends rendered ineffective. Even the blades encountered resistance, blocked from their intended path.

“The Demon Spear!” shouted Edmund.

Eugene ignored his cry and struck the ground with the Demon Spear. The spears he summoned struck the Cube, but it endured. Next was the Annihilation Hammer. After storing the spear away, he took out the Annihilation Hammer and struck the Cube with all his might.

Booom!

Though unable to breach the surface, the impact of the strike disturbed the magic circle forming on the Cube's exterior. Eugene withdrew the hammer without any regret. As he prepared to retrieve another weapon, Edmund held his breath, his grip on Vladmir tightening. This time, a silver-blue sword emerged — a familiar sight to Edmund. It was none other than Wynnyd, the very sword he had witnessed before.

However, instead of wielding Wynnyd, Eugene tossed it behind his back. One of the floating feathers disappeared together with the sword.

“…What did you do?” asked Edmund, wary of Wynnyd’s disappearance.

Eugene shook his head before answering, “You don’t have to worry about it.”

He dismissed Tempest’s complaints, and after confirming that Cyan had received Wynnyd, Eugene once again wrapped his hands around the Moonlight Sword and the Holy Sword.

Edmund’s eyes quivered at the sight.

“Why are you doing this to me?” Edmund asked sincerely. “If you had not come here and had not complicated my plans, then I would have achieved my long-cherished wish. I would have achieved something no one had ever achieved, no, something no one will ever achieve in the future! I, a human, could have ascended to a Demon King through magic.”

Edmund’s cries were bitter and desperate. He used magic while willing the Cube backward. The space between Eugene and Edmund became distorted. Even though Eugene moved forward, the distance didn’t seem to decrease.

“Eugene Lionheart! What the hell did I ever do to you? I have never blocked your path, gotten in your way, or threatened you. So why are you interfering with my plan and threatening me!?” Edmund’s shouts reverberated in the distorted space. It was quite a powerful hallucination magic, but it had almost no effect on Eugene. There was no way he would succumb to mere tricks when he had already experienced Noir Giabella’s fantasies.

“Why are you doing this to me? Even if I become a Demon King, I would not do anything to you. My purpose isn’t to achieve something by becoming a Demon King but to transcend my existence by becoming a Demon King! If the ritual succeeds and I become a Demon King, I will do nothing.” Edmund continued to shout.

His screams caught Eugene off guard.

Did that bastard truly think that way? Wasn’t it natural to stop a black wizard from trying to become a Demon King?

Moreover, it wasn’t like he was trying to become a Demon King from the corner of a room without bothering anyone. He was holding a ritual that required countless sacrifices. Did he really think that he would be left alone?

“What the fuck is this bastard saying?” Eugene spat with a scowl, raising the Moonlight Sword. There was no need to hear any more of the nonsense.

Edmund truly felt wronged. No one cared about the wars that the natives of Samar waged. It was precisely this reason that led him to select Samar as the location for his ritual. He believed, and rightly so, that if it hadn't been for Eugene's interference, his ritual would have proceeded smoothly, unhindered by any complications.

“Don’t come any closer!” Edmund screamed while swinging Vladmir when Eugene raised the Moonlight Sword. Dark Power turned into a wave of black and washed over Eugene.

Booom!

Eugene blocked the wave with Eclipse, then severed the Dark Power with the Moonlight Sword.

"Again!" Edmund exclaimed, his hand instinctively clutching his chest. Feelings of injustice and sorrow surged within him, intensified by the sickening presence of the Moonlight Sword. Though he had encountered it in the records, witnessing it firsthand made him acutely aware of the sheer absurdity of this weapon. How could a sword, a mere sword, possess the power to effortlessly sever the Dark Power of Demon Kings and Vladmir?

“I dedicated my entire life to my magic! It’s just a sword!” Edmund screamed.

Eugene remained silent in response to Edmund's outcry, yet he felt a bit bummed. The Moonlight Sword was far from deserving the label of a mere sword. Edmund had dedicated his entire existence to the pursuit of magic, but Eugene had devoted his entire life to the art of swordplay. In fact, if he were to account for his previous life, Eugene had spent two lifetimes immersed in the study and mastery of the sword.

“Don’t come near me!” Edmund shouted while striking the ground with Vladmir. The Cube moved, and the cube of absolute defense rose into the sky.

Time — he needed time. How much longer? Had he not bought enough time already?

Edmund meticulously monitored his divided consciousness, his gaze unwavering as he scrutinized Eugene's every move. The ongoing conflict within the Footprint of the God of the Land had exacted a heavy toll, claiming the lives of innumerable native inhabitants. The blood spilled, and the souls harvested had already surpassed the minimum requirements Edmund had established for his ritual.

Moreover, he had to take into account the blood and souls coming from the capital of the Kochilla Tribe. Was it sufficient to attempt the ritual? He wanted to make the calculations, but he could not afford to.

Crunch!

Eugene broke through the obstruction and swung the Moonlight Sword. Gray light scratched the surface of the Cube.

“You bastard!” Edmund shouted with sincerity. It was impossible for him to attempt the ritual and repair the Cube at the same time. Was he truly left with no option but to gamble? Unfortunately, he wasn’t given the time to contemplate his options.

Craaaack!

Eugene repeatedly slashed with the Moonlight Sword, leaving cracks on the surface of the Cube.

‘I should…!’

In the eleventh hour, Edmund found solace in his unwavering self-belief. The culmination of the ritual's intricacies left no room for doubt — it stood resolute in its completeness. Edmund had made the calculated choice to prioritize quantity over quality, ensuring an abundance of sacrifices at his disposal. The sacrifices he had amassed thus far ranged from those offered by the capital to those acquired from the battlefield. He had ensured his connection to the twisted Earth Veins as well.

It would be impossible for him to take Raizakia’s Dark Power and the power of the World Tree as he originally intended, but… he knew his greed could well cost him his life.

Edmund gave up repairing the Cube and turned his full attention to the ritual. All of his existence was channeled through Vladmir and connected to the Earth Veins.

Rumbleeee!

The Footprint of the God of the Land began to quake. The ritual inscriptions engraved beneath the ground started coming to life.

‘I did it.’

The ritual successfully linked to Edmund’s existence. The magic neared completion as the sacrifices were made. His body and soul would soon be reconstructed as a transcendental being, a Demon King.

Eugene frowned as he struck down with the Moonlight Sword. However, Edmund was no longer afraid of the Moonlight Sword. He burst into laughter. “It’s a success!”

The light of the Moonlight Sword caused a large crack to form on the surface of the Cube. But it all seemed so slow to Edmund’s eyes.

His perception underwent a profound metamorphosis. He transcended the boundaries of ordinary existence, assuming a vantage point from which he looked down upon those deemed inferior. His feeble form underwent a remarkable transfiguration, assuming the imposing stature of a Demon King, possessing an invincible and superior corporeal vessel.

“I won….”

He was interrupted midway through his victorious declaration. The ritual, which was near completion, started to collapse. The magic, which was woven around Edmund, started to become tangled.

What was going on? Edmund could not understand the current situation. There was no reason for the ritual to fail. He had gathered enough sacrifices, and the ritual had been perfected.

“…Uaaaah!” Edmund turned his head with a scream of despair. He had come to a belated understanding of why the ritual had failed.

The insufficiency of the sacrifices was undeniable. It was an oversight he couldn't have overlooked, yet he had been deceived. The blood and souls meant to be wholly consecrated to the ritual had been unlawfully usurped by another party, leaving him bereft in the midst of his endeavor.

“Balzaaaac!” Edmund had failed to keep Balzac in sight because he had been occupied with Eugene, a monster who kept coming at him, unscathed by attacks that should have killed him.

How?

He could not figure it out, despite his mind having gone through a half-transformation. Had Balzac predicted that he would change the ritual midway? Since when had he been planning to steal the offerings from the capital?

Edmund's eyes widened as he scanned the surrounding darkness, desperately searching for any trace of Balzac. Yet, to his dismay, Balzac remained elusive and concealed within the shrouded depths of Blind, blending seamlessly with the inky blackness, erasing any semblance of his presence.

‘Is his objective to take the ritual away from me?’

A portion of the ritual was flowing to Balzac, but it was a weak connection in Edmund’s eyes. It was impossible to transcend into a Demon King with something like that.

Edmund came to a new conclusion. Balzac’s purpose wasn’t to become a Demon King. He had stolen the offerings and connected himself to the ritual to destroy Edmund at a critical moment when he became sure of his success and attempted the ritual.

Balzac had forced Edmund’s impatience.

Despite the impenetrability of Blind's darkness within the Cube, Edmund's wariness of Balzac had been ignited from the very moment he laid eyes upon him. The presence of Balzac and the other adversaries had compelled him to expedite the ritual, driven by the shifting tides of battle and the urgent need to secure sacrifices from the capital, forcing him to hastily modify the intricate process he had meticulously crafted.

“You… bastard…!”

Edmund felt an even greater disgust toward Balzac.

If Balzac harbored intentions of usurping the ritual in order to ascend as a Demon King, Edmund found himself begrudgingly capable of acknowledging it. Despite his anger and the potential failure to attain his own desires, there was a begrudging understanding within Edmund that perhaps such an outcome, though unwelcome, held a certain validity.

However, Balzac wanted no such thing. He only took a small portion of the ritual and only a part of the offerings.

Edmund’s ritual had failed because of such a small thing.

“Uwaaaaahhhh!” Edmund roared frantically with anger and frustration.

That was when the moonlight smashed apart the cube and devoured his body.